Former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan has explained why he conceded defeat in the 2015 General Elections, saying he wanted to set a standard for democracy in Nigeria.
According to him, he reformed Nigeria’s democratic process as a President in order to consolidate democracy in Nigeria and the sub region.
The ex-President represented by the former Minister of National Planning, Alhaji Abubakar Suleman, stated this at the sixth edition of African Ambassadors Interactive Forum (AAIF) and dinner, organized by African Third Sector Resource (ATSR), in Abuja, where he was awarded with the ‘African Leadership and Achievement Award’.
The ex-President also noted that in mature democratic practice, there were no court cases and as such, he wanted Nigeria to get to that point in her democratic experience.
“My aim then was to change the narrative and prove that election related litigations should no longer define Nigeria’s democracy. People must not always go to court and obtain judgments before elections in Nigeria are declared complete.
“I thought that it won’t be out of place if we got to that stage where those who lost elections will be able to congratulate those who won”.
He added that given the tension at that time, he was contemplative of what would have happened if he let Nigeria, the biggest black Nation on earth slide into anarchy as a result of his quest for power.
“Above all, what that decision did for me and the nation was to avert a looming crisis. What then would have happened to our citizens, Nigeria’s economy and the investments driving its growth?
The former president noted that if he had not conceded defeat, the peace and the economy of Nigeria would have been jeopardized.
“Recall that after the 2011 Presidential election, which most observers adjudged transparent, with my victory generally seen to have been well deserved, crisis and conflicts still surfaced that claimed the lives of many of our compatriots, and property worth billions of naira destroyed”.
He expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident that led to the death of about ten Youth Corpers’, under the compulsory one year National Youth Service Corps in a State he got 16% votes.
Jonathan stated that before the 2015 Elections, there was tension in Nigeria to the extent that some international agencies predicted the disintegration of the Country in the election year.
“As the President, I always had at the back of my mind that it was my responsibility to protect the assets of Nigerians and non-Nigerians operating in our economy, these were committed investors who had trusted our government with their investments, to be able to provide jobs and improve the lives of our people”.
He maintained that the steps taken as the then President during and after the 2015 elections, were meant to secure Nigeria and Nigerians, consolidate Nigeria’s democracy and protect investments.
“I thank God that I was able to do what I did despite the irresistible force of power, and the usual worries about the uncertain fate that might befall a leader upon leaving office, especially in Africa”.
The Executive Director of ATSR, Chijioke James, said the organisation planned the program in order to celebrate the fact that Nigeria got the narrative right during and after the 2015 Elections.
“It is a very positive narrative, because of recent, the narrative has been negative. Nigeria has got it right. We conducted an election that was acceptable, an election that did not allow blood to spill, and that calls for recognition”.
